[5][6] Some countries use the terms nationality and citizenship as synonyms, despite their legal distinction and the fact that they are regulated by different governmental administrative bodies.

[12][13] Naturalization is not allowed if the person has participated in activities that could damage the state, its territory or security, or the health, morality, or public order of the country; if they have been accused of attempting to overthrow or change the systems of the state or social order; or if they have participated in terrorism or activities that would foment hostility on the basis of race, religion, or ethnic superiority.

The government may oppose if the applicant has outstanding civic obligations to the state, persons, or legal entities, or is involved in a criminal proceeding.

[14] Persons who acquire another nationality are required to notify the authorities within thirty days or risk denaturalization and/or payment of fines under the Criminal Code.

[37][38][36] In ancient Persia the king had absolute authority as the administrator of his subjects and armies, the giver of law, and the supreme judge of the empire.

Local satraps had no control over the military forces in their region to prevent them diluting the power of the ruler, but they managed the civilian administration over the areas for which they governed.

[42][43] At that time, Arabs brought Islam to the area and annexed Arran, as they called the former territory of Caucasian Albania, to the Abbasid Caliphate.

[44] Leaders served as religious and administrative authorities, teaching doctrine and acting to settle disputes, maintain order, and provide economic benefits to their communities.

[48] The Kingdom was strongly influenced by the Turko-Persian Seljuk Empire, which had invaded in the eleventh century from Central Asia and ended the dominance of Arab rule.

[48][49] The Il Khanate returned the region to Islamic practices but with predominant Persian cultural influences, which were retained by the Turko-Mongol Timurid Empire which was dominant between 1370 and 1405.

[49] Upon the collapse of the Timurids, two successive Turkic tribes ruled the area until it was returned to Persian dominance under the Safavid Empire in 1501.

The policy emphasized the collective nature of the community, which was jointly responsible to pay tax, provide labor, and share in the harvest to the landlord and state.

[54] Foreigners could not enter the country without the approval of the Tsar and were restricted to reside in specific areas and wear identifying clothing.

[63][Notes 2] Persons who failed to express a desire within the allotted time frame to retain their existing nationality would automatically become Russian.

[61] While the 1905 Russian Revolution did not spark an independence movement among the peoples in Arran, it did mark the start of the rise of political activity and ethnic identification.

One year later, the country passed a Law on Citizenship,[68] which bestowed blanket nationality upon any former Russian subject who had been born in Azerbaijan.

[80] The mass denaturalizations of Russian people living abroad resulted in approximately 1.5 million stateless persons who were unable to acquire nationality in their places of residence under restrictive policies implemented globally in the interwar years.

[92] A 1944 change to the Family Code repealed the right of a woman to sue for the father's identity and nationality to be bestowed upon a child born out of wedlock.

[93] A decree in 1945 modified the provision slightly, determining that if the parents married the child could be recognized by its father on an equal footing as children born within the marriage.

These included service to a foreign state or military, failure to register with a consulate while residing abroad, and falsifying information to obtain nationality.

The law also changed the final authority on nationality decisions, moving the power to approve or deny from the Presidium to the president.

[99][Notes 4] Under the terms of the proposed constitution, adopted with the independence declaration and awaiting approval through a plebiscite,[103] as of 1 January 1992, anyone who was a registered resident in Azerbaijan on that date was automatically conferred nationality.

[108][Notes 5] Specifically, Article 52 of the constitution stated that persons born in Azerbaijani territory acquired nationality.

[113] Naturalization required a five year residency and fluency in the Azerbaijani language, but prohibited anyone from obtaining nationality if they would pose a threat to the health of the country, public order, or state security.

[116] Those provisions could be waived for persons who had skills that could contribute to the nation, such as those who had exceptional ability in cultural performance, science, sport, or technology.

[10][24] These changes conflicted with the provisions of the constitution which granted unconditional jus soli and the inability of the state to deprive Azerbaijani of their nationality.

[120] A procedural amendment of 2 July 2014, provided that conflicts in national legislation were to be resolved according to international legal standards and that the Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network was tasked with providing the necessary certification for verifying parental affiliation to establish the nationality of a child born to Azerbaijani parents.

[19][119] Further changes to the nationality law were made on 30 December 2014, and included that persons fourteen and older who repatriated were required to take an oath of allegiance, as was anyone who naturalized.

[19] The Citizenship Act was amended again on 30 September 2015, which specified that nationality could be restored by the president under the provisions of the constitution and could be lost by a determination of the court.

[122] On 24 June 2016 the nationality statute was amended to include confirmation of refugee status as a valid means for establishing when residency began.